Beautiful Homes Pop Up in Some of the Most Unexpected Places, Says Daniel Libeskind

The famed architect believes luxury is about craftsmanship and customization, and buyers are choosier than ever

Daniel Libeskind, principal design architect for Studio Libeskind, opened his studio in Berlin in 1989 after winning a competition to build the Jewish Museum there. In February 2003, both he and Studio Libeskind moved to New York City to oversee the World Trade Center redevelopment.

Studio Daniel Libeskind, now headquartered two blocks south of the World Trade Center in New York, is currently working on projects all over the world, including Occitanie, the first skyscraper to rise in Toulouse, France, which will include a hotel, office space, commercial space and apartments, and is expected to open next year.

Mr. Libeskind, who was born in Poland, and his team have completed work on cultural institutions, commercial spaces and residential areas, from Lithuania to South Korea.

We spoke to him about living in downtown Manhattan, buyers’ increasingly specific demands and much more.

Mansion Global: Describe your dream property.

Daniel Libeskind: A place that’s full of life and the enigma of the future. Whether it’s the beauty of the light, the space around you, or what you see when you walk on the street, there’s a poetic aspect. Of course, there’s always function, too. But any place can become beautiful.

MG: Do you have a real estate property that got away?

DL: I had a building—One Madison Avenue, which fell through. Each apartment would have been a penthouse with outdoor space. It would have been a spiral of gardens that wrapped in a unique way. If I’m lucky, I’ll get to do it somewhere else.

MG: What does luxury mean to you?

DL: Incredible customization and craftsmanship. Even within a high density environment, you get unique views, details and light.

DL: Second-tier cities. Instead of Paris, Bordeaux or Toulouse; instead of London, Edinburgh or Glasgow; rather than New York City, Philadelphia. Second-tier cities have been underestimated and overshadowed, but there are great opportunities there.

MG: What’s the biggest surprise in the luxury real estate market now?

DL: Customers have greater ambitions than the developers. Because of information technology and because people travel and see many homes, there’s a desire to raise the bar on luxury and on living.

People want an atmosphere of their dreams. That’s what they’re demanding.

MG: Where are the best luxury homes in the world and why?

DL: Great architectects create great homes. So it’s wherever they are. You can see beautiful homes in South America, in Africa, in some of the most unexpected places.

DL: Where it is in Lower Manhattan. I can turn off all the light and have the ambience of New York in my windows, which are really large. Living above a subway station and feeling the vibration reminds me that I’m in the middle of one of the greatest cities in the world. What could be luckier than living in Lower Manhattan, that has seen such a renaissance? And I’m proud to be part of it. It’s a fantastic place to live, shop, and go to the river.

MG: What best describes the theme to your home and why?

DL: I would say intimacy. It’s very intimate, but it’s also very modern. There’s no nostalgia or sentimentality. It’s not a huge place, but it’s home.

MG: If you had a choice of living in a new development or a prime resale property, which would you choose and why?

DL: That’s a tough one. A piece of architecture is eternal. Whether it’s new or old, if it’s beautiful, then it’ll always retain its charisma. But I’d love to live in some of the developments I build. I often think, why didn’t I make a deal with the developer? Then I think…well, next time.

MG: What area currently has the best resale value?

DL: Downtown Manhattan. It’s astonishing how much this area has changed in the last 14 years.